Chapter 27: Staff Organizations

27.1 Staff Council

The President has established a Staff Council, an elected group of University staff members empowered to make recommendations to the President of the University relative to interests, concerns, and issues that affect the staff employees of the University. The Council may advise on specific institutional issues and otherwise act at the request of the President. Recommendations may be made on general grievance policies, but the Council will not act on individual grievance issues. With the assistance of the Chief Human Resources Officer, the Council will establish and maintain by-laws to govern membership and conduct of the Council.

27.2 U.T. System Employee Advisory Council

The University of Texas System Board of Regents and the Chancellor have established a staff Employee Advisory Council representing component institutions to facilitate the flow of ideas and information between and among the Board of Regents, the System Administration, and the component institutions. Representatives of the Employee Advisory Council may from time to time address the Board through the Chancellor. At least once each year, a meeting will be arranged between the U.T. System Employee Advisory Council and the Board of Regents. The Chief Human Resources Officer shall coordinate the meeting with the Office of the President, and University representation on the Employee Advisory Council. For additional information regarding the U. T. System Employee Advisory Council, please consult the following website:http://www.utsystem.edu/eac/.

27.3 Faculty or Staff Organizations

In accordance with Regent's Rule80104, only faculty or staff organizations registered annually with the Office of the Executive Vice President may reserve and use buildings, grounds, and facilities owned or controlled by the University in compliance with reasonable and nondiscriminatory regulation of time, place, and manner by the University.

27.3.1 Procedures for Registration

The period of registered status of an organization shall not exceed one academic year, and such status shall automatically terminate at the end of each academic year. However, an organization previously registered as a faculty or staff organization may apply for and be granted registration for subsequent periods of one academic year if it meets all applicable criteria in effect for the period for which registration is sought.

27.3.2 Suspension or Revocation of Registered Status

A registered faculty or staff organization shall be subject to all applicable rules and regulations of the University and the University of Texas System. Action taken by or on behalf of a registered faculty or staff organization that results in a violation of such rules and regulations is subject to disciplinary action that may result in the suspension or revocation of the registered status of the organization.

27.3.3 Membership Not Restricted

No organization may become registered or remain registered at a component institution as a faculty or staff organization unless the membership of the organization is restricted to the faculty or staff of the University.

At the time of application for registration and at the beginning of each semester that an organization is registered as a faculty or staff organization, each such organization shall file with the Office of the Executive Vice President a statement that the organization does not presently have, nor during any period of registration will it have, as a member any person who is not a member of the faculty or staff of the University.

If the Executive Vice President determines that the statements required above are false, registration shall be denied, or if it is determined that such statements have become false during any period of registration, such registration shall be cancelled.

27.3.4 Application for Registration

Each application for registration as a faculty or staff organization shall be accompanied by a complete list of the names and addresses of all persons who are officers of the organization and the application shall identify by name and address the person or persons who are authorized to speak for or represent the organization in its relations with the University and who are authorized to receive for the organization any official notices, directives, or instructions from the University. This required information shall be kept current during any period of registration. If at any time during a period of registration it is determined by the Executive Vice President that such information is not current and the organization does not make such information current within 10 days after being notified of such deficiency, registration shall be cancelled.

27.3.5 Prohibition on Use of University Name and Seal

A registered faculty or staff organization may state that its membership is composed of the faculty or staff of the University but it shall not suggest or imply that it is acting with the authority or as an agency of the University. A faculty or staff organization shall not use the name of the University or the name of The University of Texas System as a part of the name of the organization, and it shall neither display the seal of either the University or The University of Texas System in connection with any activity of the organization, nor use such seal or seals as part of any letterhead, sign, banner, pamphlet, or other printed material that bears the name of the organization.

27.3.6 Use of Facilities

A registered faculty or staff organization may reserve and use University facilities as permitted by Regents Rules and Regulations and in compliance with University facility use regulations. A registered faculty or staff organization may not reserve or use property, buildings, or facilities owned or controlled by the U. T. System or a component institution for the purpose of engaging in any project or program with any association, organization, or corporation, or with any individual or group of individuals that are not registered.

27.3.7 Violation of Rules

Faculty and staff organizations shall be subject to all applicable rules and regulations the University and the University of Texas System. An organization is subject to disciplinary action or cancellation of registration for violation of such rules and regulations.